PhD defence: Smart Charging, Smarter Grids - Unlocking the Potential of Electric Vehicles in Mitigating Grid Congestion

Grid congestion regularly makes headlines, as it leads to delays in construction projects and sustainable initiatives. Charging electric vehicles is one of the causes of this problem. These vehicles often charge during peak hours, thereby overloading the electricity grid. However, they can help solve grid congestion through smart charging. This can be done first by shifting charging to times when there is more capacity on the grid. In addition, through Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology, they can also feed electricity back into the grid, thereby helping to relieve the load.

This dissertation has examined the value of smart charging in mitigating grid congestion. It shows that grid operators must fully commit to smart charging, as it can prevent many grid congestion issues and buy time to expand the grid. Furthermore, the dissertation demonstrates that grid operators can use various mechanisms to ensure that smart charging is implemented effectively to combat congestion. In particular, it is crucial that grid operators focus on introducing a smarter grid tariff system. Grid tariffs are the costs grid users pay to the operators, and by designing these intelligently, electric vehicle users can be financially incentivized to change their charging behavior and help reduce pressure on the grid. This also results in a fairer distribution of grid costs. Finally, it is important that all electric vehicle models are well-equipped to handle smart charging. This dissertation shows that currently not all models perform well in this regard, which reduces the effectiveness of smart charging.